April’s Book, Streaming, and Podcast Recs
Sharing the best of what I read, watched, and listened to last month.
Books
The Lincoln Miracle: Inside the Republican Convention That Changed History by Edward Achorn
The vivid, behind-the-scenes story of perhaps the most consequential political moment in American history—Abraham Lincoln’s history-changing nomination to lead the Republican Party in the 1860 presidential election.
Napoleon: A Life by Andrew Roberts
The definitive biography of the great soldier-statesman by the acclaimed author of Churchill and The Last King of America—winner of the LA Times Book prize, finalist for the Plutarch prize, winner of the Fondation Napoleon prize and a New York Times bestseller.
The Searcher by Tana French
Cal Hooper thought a fixer-upper in a bucolic Irish village would be the perfect escape. After twenty-five years in the Chicago police force and a bruising divorce, he just wants to build a new life in a pretty spot with a good pub where nothing much happens. But when a local kid whose brother has gone missing arm-twists him into investigating, Cal uncovers layers of darkness beneath his picturesque retreat, and starts to realize that even small towns shelter dangerous secrets.
Streams
Alexander: The Making of a God – Netflix six part docuseries about Alexander the Great.
Full Swing 2 – The second season of Netflix’s behind the scenes golf documentary is better than the first.
Manhunt – AppleTV+ miniseries based on the book by the same name about the hunt for John Wilkes Booth after the Lincoln assassination.
Listens
Putting Stock Market Pullbacks into Perspective (The Investopedia Express with Caleb Silver)- Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA, rejoins The Express to put stock market pullbacks in perspective, and why the recent declines are to be expected and relatively minor given historical averages. Plus, there is a growing chorus of Fed presidents who don’t think interest rate cuts are warranted at all this year given the hot labor market and persistent inflation. Do investors and savers need to get used to, “higher until whenever”, for interest rates, which might explain the heaviest inflows into money market funds that we’ve witnessed all year? Also, glam-metal legends KISS sells its catalogue and its NIL for $300 million as Name, Image and Likeness moves from the field to the recording industry.
High mortgage rates, limited inventory continue to challenge the US housing market (Goldman Sachs Exchanges) – High mortgage rates and a limited supply of homes have created one of the tightest markets in decades. Goldman Sachs Research’s Roger Ashworth explains the supply-and-demand dynamics that are shaping the US housing market and the outlook for 2024.
Sal Mercogliano on the Baltimore Bridge Collapse (Odd Lots) – A shipping expert speaks to the impact of another maritime disaster.
Suggested Reads
March’s Book, Streaming, and Podcast Recs